Dean Allen's Daily Devotional

-November 27, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Thursday, happy Thanksgiving Day,

“In everything give thanks; for this the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ “ (Ephesians 5:20).

Paul wrote these challenging and encouraging verses; the first to the Thessalonians and the second to the Ephesians. More importantly, He wrote them to us.

Being thankful should be a way of life for believer, no matter what the circumstances may be. Paul leaves no wiggle room, we are to be thankful in and for all things. I came down with a sore throat and will miss our Thanksgiving time. I am thankful, but still there is disappointment.

• Give thanks in all things – The word “in”means in the midst of. In good times and bad; in pleasure or pain; in gain or in loss; in joy or in sorrow; in sunshine or rain. When we are in a trial it isn’t easy to give thanks; conversely it isn’t easy to thank the Lord when everything is going right and positive. We often take things for granted until we lose them or we start relying on ourselves, thinking we did it.

• Give thanks for all things – Here is where it becomes even tougher: to give thanks always for all things. You mean everything, Lord? You mean always? The answer is yes and yes; amen and amen. The reason we can do this is that God is in control and works all things together for good in our lives. Romans 8:28 is a tremendous promise, “And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” God has a plan even we can’t see or understand.

Let us be thankful today in and for all things. It is the secret to happiness and fulfillment. Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. Stay safe and healthy.

Give thanks with a grateful heart always right from the start.

Dean

-November 26, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Wednesday,

“Rooted and built up and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

(Colossians 2:7).

We are a very blessed people who should be a very thankful people. When asked how I am doing, I like to say, “I am going good, praise God, I am blessed and thankful.”

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the USA. The only other country that has a Thanksgiving Day is Canada, which is held on the second Monday in October. When the people came to America and Canada from across the sea, they gave thanks to God for who He is and what He had done for them.

Thanksgiving should never be limited to one day a year or even three times a day at mealtime; we should abound in thanksgiving. The word abound is a wonderful word defined as, “to be present in large numbers or in great quantity; prevalent.” We enjoy a plethora of blessings, therefore we should give a plethora of thanks to our gracious Lord.

Thanksgiving is not limited to words, it involves living a thankful life. Our pastor Adel gave a wonderful message last Sunday on thanksgiving. He quoted Spurgeon who coined the term thanks-living. It really struck me that thanksgiving should lead to thanks-living. Our lives should be like a book of thanksgiving in all that we say and do.

Let us then abound in thanksgiving and in thanks-living. Have a blessed pre-Thanksgiving Day. Stay safe and healthy.

Simple math: thanks + giving = thanksgiving; thanks + living = thanks-living. The equations are for all situations.

Dean

-November 25, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Tuesday,

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

(Colossians 3:15).

Paul wrote about thanksgiving and even more he practiced it. He was truly thankful each day. You look at his life, filled with trials and troubles; imprisonments and shipwrecks; rejections and persecutions; and you might ask him, “Paul how could you be thankful in all these circumstances?”

Paul had a deep sense of his own utter unworthiness and of Christ’s glorious worthiness. He was always thankful for his salvation and how the Lord forgave him and changed his life.

Paul is telling his readers that one of the best ways to be thankful is to, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts…” When we let peace rule in our hearts, we can be thankful for what He what He has done for us, is doing for us, and will do for us.

The word rule in the Greek in today’s verse is barbeno, meaning “to umpire.” It is the only time it is used in NT. Normally when we speak of rulers we think of kings, prime ministers, or presidents; but here Paul speaks more in sports terms. We are all familiar with umpires and referees.

Owners, coaches, players, and fans don’t control the games, the officials do. In the same way, our feelings and circumstances shouldn’t control us—God’s peace should, helping us be thankful.

As Thanksgiving Day is quickly approaching, may the peace of God rule in our hearts so that we will be thankful. Have a blessed day of peace and thanksgiving. Stay safe and healthy.

The Lord Jesus makes the final call and it can never be overturned, nor should it be.

Dean

-November 24, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Monday,

“Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

(1 Peter 1:8).

Today’s verse is so full of hope and encouragement. The key to rejoicing in the Lord is believing in the Lord. It all begins with our faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. All our other blessings stem from that root.

In the world, joy is temporary and focuses on circumstances. There are joyful times when our team wins a championship, when we get married, when our children or born, when we make a big sale or receive a big bonus or promotion.

Conversely, our joy is eternal and is based on what the Lord did for us on the cross. Therefore, our joy is ever flowing, ever growing, and ever showing. When we are joyful, it is a “joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

We have not seen Jesus with our physical eyes, yet we love Him. One day we will see Him face to face in all of His glory. The singing group MercyMe sings the song, “I Can Only Imagine.” It is one of my favorite songs.

The first verse says, “I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see when Your face is before me, I can only imagine, yeah.” The chorus says, “Surrounded by Your glory what will my heart feel? Will I dance for You, Jesus or in awe of You, be still? Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine. I can only imagine.”

If you think you have joy now, just wait til you get to glory to see Him in all His glory. Have a blessed day believing and rejoicing in the Lord. Stay safe and healthy,

Our joy is inexpressible and full of glory, the world just can’t take in, because they don’t have Jesus or put their faith in Him.

Dean

-November 23, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“And my God shall supply all your need according to the riches of His in glory by Christ Jesus.”

(Philippians 4:19).

Paul was so thankful to the Philippians for their generosity in meeting his needs. Paul lived by faith trusting in God for all his needs.

God supplies all our needs out of His riches in glory be Christ Jesus. The word supply is defined as, “make (something needed or wanted) available to someone; provide.”

God promises to meet our needs. This verse is especially appropriate right before Thanksgiving Day. We have so much to thank God for. Because we are so blessed, we should be so thankful; not just once a year but every day throughout the year.

Imagine a huge storehouse in heaven that supplies the needs of every believer, that means you and me. He never runs out, He never runs short, and He never forgets His own. He is limitless in all His provisions.

God meets our needs so that we can meet the needs of others. We are thus receivers that become givers. In the hymn, “God Will Take Care of You, the hymn writer Civilla Martin wrote in the third verse, “All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you. Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.”

Have a blessed Lord’s Day thanking God for all His blessings. Stay safe and healthy.

Let us rejoice in how God has supplied all our needs, is supplying our all our needs, and will supply all our needs.

Dean